Alan
Eppes looked down at his five-year-old son, "As soon as we get back
to the hospital," he replied, ruffling Don's hair, "Your new
little brother was asleep when I left but your mother was still
awake. Just give a minute to say goodbye to Mrs. Mackenzie."

Don
wasn't even listening to him as he raced for the front door of
their neighbour's house.

Alan
sighed and turned to their red-haired neighbour. Emma Mackenzie
smirked at him, an unholy twinkle in her eye.

"Shannon
was exactly the same when Liz was born, bouncing with excitement.
Well…at least at first, it became old news pretty quickly. You know
five-year-olds."

"Yeah.
Thanks for watching him, and for such a long time, we weren't
expecting Margaret's labour to be quite so long."

Emma
waved a hand, "Don't worry about it, it was great to have him.
Just out of curiosity, how long was the labour in the end?"

Alan
rubbed his forehead, "Twenty-two hours. We thought twelve for
Donnie was a long time."

Emma
laughed, "I know how you feel, Shannon was almost twenty-one. By
the end I just wanted to have the kid and pass out."

Alan
smiled, "I know Margaret-"

"Dad,
Let's go!" Don was back and demanding attention.

Alan
looked at him sternly, "Donnie, that was very rude. You apologise
to Mrs. Mackenzie, right now."

Don
looked at his shoes as he mumbled, "Sorry."

"That's
ok, really, you should get going anyway. After all, it's not
everyday you get a new brother. I don't blame you for being
impatient."

Don
looked up at his father imploringly. A master of the puppy-dog eyes,
as most five-year-olds are, he could usually get his way with that
look.

Alan
smiled, "Alright, alright. Let's go."

Don
raced ahead for the door again while Alan and Emma followed behind at
a more sedate pace.

As
they stepped out the door Alan turned to Emma, "Just one more time,
thank you looking after him."

"It
was my pleasure. Now go, before Donnie bursts from impatience."

Alan
nodded, "Come over soon to see the baby."

"I
will," Emma said, "I'll bring the girls too. They'll be so
excited to see him."

oooooooooooooooo

Don
looked down at his new, sleeping little brother.

He
looked up at his mother's face. Then his father's.

"Well,
what do you think of him?" his mother asked.

He
looked down at his brother again. What was he supposed to say?

"He's
squishy. And pink." That would do, wouldn't it?

"New
babies always look like that." His mother replied.

"You
have the same ears, Donnie." His father observed.

Don
looked at his little brother's ears. What was his Dad talking
about? His little brother's ears were all squishy, they looked
nothing like his. He scrunched up his nose and stared down at his
brother. Now that he'd seen him, what was he supposed to do next?
His friend Sarah had a little brother and she wouldn't stop talking
about him. He didn't see what was so great about having a little
brother.

"What's
his name?" Don asked looking up at his parent's again.

His
parent's looked at each for a moment before turning back to him.
His mother answered, "Charlie."

Don
looked down at his brother again, "Charlie." He said.

Charlie
opened his eyes and the two brothers looked at each other for the
first time.

Now
he understood why Sarah liked having a little brother so much.

A/N:
My first fic. At least, the first one I put up. Just a little When
Don met Charlie moment. I don't mind if you review or not, it's
your choice.

The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.